Furnace-grate



(No Model.)

J W. BRIGHTMAN.

FURNAGE GRATE.

No. 318,862. Patented May 26, 1885.

WIN/8858 N. PETERS. Pholwlilhcgmphsn wmm mn. ac

Unites States Parana JOSEPH XV. BRlGI-ITMAII, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FURNACE GRATE.

KEPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 250. 318,562, dated May 26, 1885.

Applieaiion filed April 29, 1884.

To (0Z2 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Josnrn W. Bnrerrr- MAN, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnace-Grates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in inclined furnace-grates, the object being to provide inclined sectional grates with the laterally-projecting and approximately-horizontal shelves so arranged that the shelves of one section interlock with the shelves of the adja cent sections, and each shell provided on the back side with an upwardly-projecting rib by means of which fine coal may be used on the grates without any waste through the grates into the ash-pit, and at the same time the desired air-space may be had in a horizontal direction between the interlocking shelves.

A further object is to provide mechanism by means of which alternate sections may be given a limited reciprocating end movement to feed the coal down the incline of the grates.

A further object is to provide graduated airspaces, increasing in area from the top downward.

Vith these objects in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and in combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In using fine coal on ordinary in rnaccgrates that have air-spaces of sufficient size to furnish the required amount of air for combustion a large percentage of the coal is sifted through the air-spaces into the ash-pit and wasted. I have therefore invented the grate-bars hereinafter described, in which the air-spaces are in a horizontal direction, by means of which fine coal may be used without any waste,while an abundance of air may be supplied to support the combustion. It is desirable to admit only a limited amount of air at the upper portion of the grates, where the coal is coking; but when it is necessary to utilize the furnace to near its full capacity a larger amount of air is required to support the combustion in the body of the fire at the lower portions of the grates. I have therefore devised means (X0 model.)

of making graduated air-spaces smaller toward the top of the grate and larger toward the bottom, as may be required.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a stationary sect-ion of the grates, and in vertical section the sup porting-bars on which the stationary sections rest. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of two sections, showing the manner in which the shelves interlock. Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of one of the reciprocating sections and in elevation the mechanism for supporting and operating it. Fig. i is a side elevation of a section of the grates with graduated openings between the shelves.

A represents a stationary inclined section of the grates resting on the cross-bars B, and provided with the laterally-projecting shelves to, that are each provided with the upwardlyprojecting ribs, (4.

0 represents a reciprocating section with shelves 0, provided with ribs csimilar to those on section A. These sections A and O are arranged alternately with the shelves at and c, that extend toward each other from adjacent ribs, interlocking and so adjusted as to divide the airspaces about equally above and below each shelf. These shelves, as shown in Fl 2, overlap each other, and the ribs on the up per edges of the shelves prevent any coal from passing back between the shelves.

The sections 0 are supported by the cross bars E, that are supported at each end by the rocking arms I), that are fulcrumed on the levers F, that are in turn pivoted to the p ate H. The plate II is provided with laterallyprojecting ledges h, that are respectively under the levers F, and by means of the wedges G, inserted between the ledges and levers,the latter may be tilted a trilie to raise the arms D and the sections C, so as to adjust the shelves 0 centrally between the interlocking shelves a.

I are rods pivotally attached to the arms D, and are connected with any machinery that will give them a slow limited rocking movement, by means of which the sections 0 are slightly reciproeated to move the coal down the incline of the grates. In the position shown in Fig. 2 the section 0 is at the limit of its movement to the right hand, and when moved to the left hand the shelves 0 will extend about ICO as far beyond the shelves a as the shelves at in Fig. 2 are shown to extend beyond the shelves 0. In Fig. 1 two shelves 0 are shown in dotted lines, the lower one in the position that it would have with the section 0 at the limit of its movement to the left hand, and the upper dotted shelf 0 in its relative position with.

the section 0 at the end of its movement to the right hand.

These grates are preferably used with some automatic feeding device to discharge the coal onto the grates, and in such cases some hop per or plate would extend over the upper end of the grates, as shown in dotted lines at K, Fig. 2, and the plate 0 on the top of the section 0 is only to fill a portion of what would otherwise be too large a space, as shown between the upper shel f, c, and the plate K.

These grates may all be made stationary and used to good advantage as stationary grates.

hen only a moderate fire is required in the furnace the grates are preferably about on the incline shown, and the shelves should be about horizontal in the direction length wise of the furnace. The grates may,however,be inclined a trifle more than shown, so that the shelves are inclined slightly toward the rear of the furnace; but of course this would not affect the area of the air-spaces.

\Vhen a larger consumption of coal is required, the grates should be constructed with a steep inclination, and large air-spaces proyided by locating the shelves on the respectwe sections a greater distance apart.

YVhen furnaces are used to about their full capacity, I prefer the construction shown in Fig. 4, where, by means of the curvatures of the sections, the air-spaces may be graduated as shown. The sections may be curved more or less, as required, and it is evident that the steeper the inclination the wider apart the shelves may be located on the respective sections, and consequently the larger air-spaces had. I

For convenience in molding, the sections are made in halves and riveted together, and in the arrangement in the furnace half-sections are used on the sides of the furnace, with the shelves extending inward toward the adjacent sections. Vith this construction of shelves and horizontal air-spaces the coal does not clog the air-spaces, as with the ordinary grates and vertical air-spaces, and consequently a much freer circulation of air is had through the same area of airspaces.

These grates may be arranged-to feed from one side of the furnace to the opposite side, or from both sides toward the center, as is sometimes necessary when the room in front of the furnace is limited, and of course in such cases the grates would be located at right angles to the position shown.

Nhat I claim is 1. Inclined furnace-grates composed of stationary and movable sections arranged alternately, each section being provided with overlapping shelves, and the shelves of one section interlocking with the shelves of the adjacent sections.

2. Furnace-grates in section that incline downward from the front toward the rear of the furnace, and provided with laterally-proj ecting shelves that extend toward each other from adjacent sections and interlock and overlap each other, as shown, and so arranged that air-spaces are had between the interlocking shelves, substantially as set forth.

3. Furnace-grates in section that incline downward from the front toward the rearof the furnace, and provided with laterally-projecting shelves that interlock and overlap each other, as shown, and alternate sections provided with suitable mechanism by means of which they may be reciprocated approximately horizontally, substantially as set forth.

4:. Furnace-grates in section inclined and provided with laterally-projecting interlocking shelves, as aforesaid, and the shelves so arranged on the respective sections as to leave graduated airspaees between the shelves, preferably of small area at the upper portion of the grate and increasing in area toward the lower portion of the grate, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the sections 0, adapted to be reciprocated between the sections A, of the rock-arms D and crossbars E, adapted to support the sections 0 in the reciprocating movements, and the rock-arms provided at the bottom with adjusting mechanism, preferably as shown, by means of which they may be adjusted vertically, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 23d day of April, 1884.

JOSEPH \V. BRIGHTMAN. YVitnesses:

ALBERT E. LYNCH, Guns. H. Donna. 

